Resources, trends, and motivation to fulfill the Great Commission

Blessed Hope

Hello Tigard, Oregon! Thanks for sending $25 to enable Brigada’s servers to serve the world! We appreciate you!!! Thanks to Blessed Hope for sending $20.16 — a direct result of those who use their quality telecommunications services. Learn more about them at:

which sent a large share of the “true fan” commitment. Shew! Remarkable! Amazing. With grateful hearts. Please, please visit their website. At their request, we aren’t saying exactly the size of the gift. Just suffice to say they are a big “True Fan” of Brigada, to use Justin Long’s term. Their staff wrote this past week to explain, “WorldconneX believes Brigada is a key missions connector, and we generously support your efforts.” More about them next week. But for now, thanks again!

Because of the way you have given, Brigada can go forward. Just in hand — a check from Blessed Hope long distance for $14.93. Learn more about their outstandingly competitive rates and customer service by browsing to:

1. DONORS HELP US CRANK OUT BRIGADA 2. NEED A NEW CELL PHONE? TRY BLESSED HOPE 3. ELIJAH COMPANY MISSIONARY TRAINING 4. LOOKING FOR A SINGLES RETREAT FOR MISSIONARIES? 5. MOROCCO SUMMIT 6. GOT TESOL? 7. YWAM CROSSROADS DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING SCHOOL 8. CROSS-CULTURAL CHURCH PLANTING SEMINAR 9. GO TO THE NATIONS… AS AN ENGLISH TEACHER 10. SCHOOL OF FRONTIERS MISSIONS IN BEAUTIFUL JACKSONVILLE, FL 11. FOR ACADEMICIANS: REVIEWING MOREHEAD’S “NEW RELIGIOUS MOV’TS” 12. THE BACK PAGE: THREE CHEERS FOR THE BACKSTAGE WORKERS

1. DONORS HELP US CRANK OUT BRIGADA — Cool! Here’s $120 from Family Circus Ministry, $46 from an anonymous donor who gave via Missionary Training Service (MTS). Learn more about their work at http://www.missionarytraining.org In addition, $25 from an anonymous donor in Fort Collins, CO, and $5 from a Christian worker in Sweden. May God bless each of these!!! 2. NEED A NEW CELL PHONE? TRY BLESSED HOPE — If you’re in need of a new cellular plan, don’t forget to check out the plans by Blessed Hope Communications (a Brigada sponsor). You can get service through most major providers; plus free phones, free accessories and even cash back are part of most plans. For every new order activated through Blessed Hope, Brigada receives a $40 sponsorship. (Whoa!) Please visit http://www.lowermyphonebill.com/brigada for more details and to configure a plan that works for you. 3. ELIJAH COMPANY MISSIONARY TRAINING — Here’s a four day preparation consultation from February 24-27 near Valentine, Virginia. The consultation introduces realities, necessities, models and methods. A close look is given to the personal profile of the missionary and developing relational abilities. The goal is to help provide a road map into missions involvement and motivation for the journey. Prayer is central to the training. Skills are also presented. Furloughing missionaries and missions leaders have also found this time to be of great value for resolving difficult issues. The Elijah Company manifesto is posted on the newly edited web site at http://www.elijahcompany.org . You can get more information and applications by writing to info4(at)elijahcompany(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]. The Elijah Company office phone (757) 226-3507. 4. LOOKING FOR A SINGLES RETREAT FOR MISSIONARIES? — Try the interagency retreats hosted by MET in the Czech Republic and South Africa. They bring together an excellent seasoned staff will daily facilitate times of Biblical meditation, prayer, teaching and worship song. Every afternoon MET offers personal relaxation time with the option of benefiting from one to one debriefing and / or counseling. Attend 21 – 28 April 2005 in Czech Republic or 20 – 27 October 2005 in South Africa. For registration or more info, write OfficeMET(at)aol(dot)com . [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] The deadline for application is: Czech Republic – 31 January 2005 ; South Africa 31 July 2005. Applications are dealt with on a first come, first served, basis. 5. MOROCCO SUMMIT — Want to learn what others are doing in Morocco? Looking for tips on how to begin ministry there, what to do, or how to do it better? Whether you are just considering an outreach or are already ministering in North Africa, the Morocco Summit is for you. Arise Shine Morocco invites missionaries, interested individuals, mission agency and church representatives to meet together in Southern California for two days in April to learn from one another and to explore together what has been done in the past and what might be done in the future. Workers with decades in Morocco will share from their experiences and teach on reaching Muslims within the Moroccan context. Panel and group discussions will address specific issues and opportunities. The overall thrust will be to unify, inform, inspire, encourage, equip and empower participants for effective ministry in Morocco. Discounted early registration is available until February 15. For more information write: asm(at)interum(dot)org 6. GOT TESOL? — Invest three weeks in practical TESOL training and ensure that your teaching is effective and your ministry with students is enhanced. During Essentials of TESOL, July 11-29, 2005, at Biola University in southern California, you will: learn methods and techniques for teaching English language skills, be introduced to the sound and grammar systems of English, discover teaching materials, explore cultural issues, and learn appropriate ways of being a Christian teacher. You will also get supervised experience teaching non-native speakers. Non-credit tuition is only $515. Dorm space is available for early applicants. Visit http:www.biola.edu/academics/sics/essentials_tesol.cfm for more info and call 562/903-4844 or contact kitty[dot]purgason[at]biola[dot]edu for an application. [As a means of preventing spam, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] 7. YWAM CROSSROADS DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING SCHOOL — Are you looking for greater intimacy with God and a taste of cross-cultural missions? If you are age 30 or more, or a family with children, consider taking the Crossroads DTS at Youth With A Mission at Lebanon PA USA. This 20 week program includes 12 weeks of lectures, with speakers who focus on such topics as the father heart of God, how to hear God’s voice, intercession, spiritual warfare, and relationships. Students then have the option to minister in Ukraine for 8 weeks, a very practical cross- cultural ministry experience. Lecture phase is from March 21 to June 10, 2005 with outreach to Ukraine immediately following. Details and application forms are on website http://www.ywampa.org. E-mail questions to ywampa(at)comcast(dot)net. [replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] 8. CROSS-CULTURAL CHURCH PLANTING SEMINAR — Worldview Resource Group (WRG) is conducting a cross-cultural church planting seminar August 29 – September 2, 2005 at the Mission Training International center in Palmer Lake, Colorado, USA. The seminar provides training in cross- cultural church planting methodologies based on a worldview approach to ministry. Facilitators include: Dr. David Hesselgrave; Dr. Tom Steffen; George Walker, co-founder of WRG; and Mark Zook, featured in the Ee- Taow video. For online information about the curriculum, costs, and logistics go to http://www.wrg3.org You can register online. USA callers can dial toll- free 1-866-750-WRG3 (9743). Also, you can email WRG at info(at)wrg3(dot)org. [replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] 9. GO TO THE NATIONS… AS AN ENGLISH TEACHER — Here’s a 4-week TESOL course in effective English teaching techniques, sponsored by Youth With A Mission in Lebanon PA USA. February 28 to March 25, 2005. Details, application forms, and alternate dates listed in website at http://www.ywampa.org. E-mail questions to ywampa(at)comcast(dot)net. [Replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] 10. SCHOOL OF FRONTIERS MISSIONS IN BEAUTIFUL JACKSONVILLE, FL — The SOFM is an intensive Christian training course beginning with a 12-week lecture/teaching phase followed with an overseas internship in the 10/40 window. The purpose of the SOFM is to give student’s essential principles and tools needed to start long-term effective church planting movements among unreached people groups. Some of the topics we will be studying are: Principles of church planting among unreached peoples groups, The Power of Team Leadership, Anthropological Insights for Missionaries, Chronological Bible Presentation, History of Missions and much more! Scholl starts in April 17th. For more information contact Jose at myglobito(at)yahoo(dot)com or call (904) 221-5990. You can also check http://www.ywamjax.com. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] 11. FOR ACADEMICIANS: REVIEWING MOREHEAD’S “NEW RELIGIOUS MOV’TS” — If you’re the seminary type, you might enjoy a good heady review of John Morehead’s article which appeared in Encountering New Religious Movements: A Holistic Approach. Eds. Irving Hexham, Stephen Rost & John Morehead II (Kregel, 2004; ISBN#: 0-8254-2893-9). Mr. Morehead’s article is titled “Where Do We Go From Here?: Transforming Evangelical Responses to New Religions.” The review is by Jeff Downs. Find it at: http://www.rctr.org/transformingreview.htm 12. THE BACK PAGE: THREE CHEERS FOR THE BACKSTAGE WORKERS — Sometimes the hardest workers get the least glory. Do you know the type? Take Bill Morrison, for instance. He’s been a full-time self-funded volunteer for the last five years at JoshuaProject.Net. http://www.joshuaproject.net He’s the “other member” of the Joshua Project “team”. (Truth is, there are only two of them. Dan Scribner is the more well-known, and it’s Dan we normally highlight, but Dan will be the first to tell you that Bill is the one who faithfully and meticulously manages all Joshua Project data, statistics and computer application. Dan’ll go on to point out that Bill is the one who “disassembled” the Bethany profiles into the photo, map and text elements and carefully cataloged each element so we could build the new web profiles. Dan would add that after getting permissions, Bill is the one who spent weeks carefully going through Paul Hattaway’s new Buddhist World people profile book incorporating all the relevant data into the Joshua Project database (this new Buddhist info should be on the Joshua Project website by the time you get around to reading this). Bill is the one who made 150 language maps one-by-one for an Indian researcher. And that is only the beginning. Dan would say, without Bill there is no Joshua Project.

He is the kind of behind-the-scenes servant that would never want us to mention him. Dan Scribner tells folks that Bill “will have a very heavy crown in heaven and a front-row seat.” And you know what? You probably know one too. In Dan’s office, they go by the name of Bill. In my own, they answer to names like Penny, Melanie, Wayne, Julie, Bob, Aaron and others. How ’bout finding one of them in your world today — and say thanks.

Because this is a “Back Page” about the “back stage”, the workers we all know but say so little about. In fact, for all of you today, we give thanks to the Father of Lights, who illuminates the caverns of our minds so we can clearly see through the empty space in our heads to the beauty of the jewels in yours! To all those backstage workers, we give thanks and praise to God!

SAFE DRINKING WATER FOR RELIEF EFFORTS -– TealBrook Supplies, a regular Brigada sponsor, offers a portable water purification system that is excellent for relief situations, operating on gravity, making the water microbiologically safe. With the tragic news of the earthquake and resulting disaster from the tsunami there is currently a need for safe drinking water and that need will be growing. If you’re involved in relief efforts contact TealBrook by visiting their website at http://www.tealbrook.com or emailing them at info(at)tealbrook(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] (Thanks again for the faithful help, Mike and Deb!)

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS; COULD YOU HELP MAKE THE DIFFERENCE? — Thanks to Impact Ministries http://www.impactministries.ca/ for their sponsorship gift of $80 today! They have needs of their own, but wrote, “As I was praying about “our” need, the Lord spoke to me about first helping you with “your” need. In reality…it is all “His” work. :) Being located in north central Guatemala, it is wonderful to have a link via Brigada to what is happening in the rest of the world. Thank you for being a blessing and encouragement! Les Peters, Impact Ministries Canada, Ministerios Impacto Guatemala.” (Thanks again, Les!) Would you like to join Les in one last push? So we can make our 2004 goal of being able to pay our Brigada-sponsored secretary? If so, just click “sponsor” in the top menu (to use PayPal or a credit card), or just send a check payable to Team Expansion to: Team Expansion (Brigada secretary), 13711 Willow Reed Dr., Louisville, KY 40299. Thanks! As always, be sure to let us know if you’d like us to promote any particular service or ministry, or if you’d prefer your gift be anonymous. We’ll keep the website updated throughout the week… Just go to the Brigada site to see if we’ve reached the goal… and we’ll count any gift sent this week as if it came in during 2004. Starting next Friday, Jan. 7th, we’ll begin a new year. To celebrate a great year (though we’re a long ways yet from our goal of $16,140, still, $9000 or so from our readers is a great year!), we’ll go into “minimal mode” about sponsors for the first month. But at the same time, by faith, we’ll try to commit to another year with our Brigada-sponsored secretary. Gulp. :-) By the way, remember in 2003, we had one single gift of $9000, so subtracting that one special gift, we actually *increased* donations/sponsorships in 2004. Again — a big thank-you to all those who helped!

WE APPRECIATE CHRISTIANS IN CRISIS MINISTRY — If you get a chance, stop by the website at… www.christiansincrisis.org An anonymous friend there just sent $25 for our end-of-the-year push. Thanks!

BLESSED HOPE CAN HOOK YOU UP WITH GREAT PHONE SERVICE — Cellular contract ending soon? Or new to cellular and wonder where to start? Want access to all the major providers in your area? Now you can get a great plan *and* benefit Brigada with your sign up! With a wide variety of plans available nationwide (in most areas), you should be able to find what you are looking for through Blessed Hope Communications. Plus most plans have FREE phones, some have cash BACK and many have FREE accessories to boot. For every sign-up processed through Brigada’s link, Brigada will earn a $50 bonus ($20 with the prepaid plans). Let your cell dollars COUNT! Visit http://www.lowermyphonebill.com/brigada and click on the cellular graphic. (You might want to also check out the long distance rates in your area while you’re there).

BIBLE SOFTWARE FOR MISSIONARIES — Overseas missionaries can get excellent Bible software that works in 25 languages for only $10, shipping included. Most of the program is also available for download for free. One of our readers, a missionary by the name of Kerby, has been using Online Bible (OLB) for years and recommends it. OLB includes Strong’s Concordance, Thompson Chain Reference, 22 English versions of the Bible and many other languages. The program also can display two or more language versions of the Bible at the same time, which you can display on an overhead or video projector. This makes life easier for missionaries still learning a foreign language, and helps the listeners as well. Mac, DOS, Windows and Palm Pilot versions are available. Go to: http://www.onlinebible.net (Thanks Kerby!)

WEBSITE REVIVAL — “Website Revival” pulls together Christian web developers passionate about serving churches and ministries in communicating the glorious Gospel of God’s grace effectively on the web! Website Revival has a special program that allows its church clients to offer discounted sites to the ministries they sponsor. Are you a Christian web designer or developer? Website Revival offers developer licenses to their content management system. E-mail Eric eric(at)newfangled(dot)com for more info. [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .] or visit them at:

In a scholarly, but engaging book, missionary to Muslims, Robert Livingston, excites readers about the Great Commission. Using clear Bible texts, he connects Christ’s coming with the Great Commission’s completion. He bluntly exposes radical Islam, but encourages the gospel in response. Order online, or in the USA, call 1-877-421-7323. For deep discounts, missionaries or individuals buying in bulk should e-mail the author directly at bob(at)finalclash(dot)com [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

INTERCESSORS UK — They’re aiming to cover the UK with strategic prayer. Intercessors UK is a newly launched web site with the aim of encouraging born-again believers from all denominations to intercede for the UK. They use a special prayer schedule strategy to cover the week with prayer, 24 hours, 7 days a week. They pray about issues such as Church unity, the media and Islam. The site can be found at http://www.intercessuk.org or email Ian at this address if you’d like any further information: facilitator(at)intercessuk(dot)org [As a means of preventing spam for our contributors, in the preceding email address(es), please replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .]

THE BACK PAGE: PRAY FOR THE VICTIMS & FAMILIES OF THE TSUNAMI — As you celebrate the new year tonight and this weekend, please remember to lift up all those who have lost loved ones… either literally or through painful death.. and ask God to speed aid and organization to the doom and confusion along those shores hit by the neutron bomb-like waves. May God bring peace to this troubled seashore. Let’s lift them up together…

BRIGADA READERS STEP UP TO THE PLATE — Thanks to Information & Learning Systems International for their gift of $1350, based on what must have been some 280 CDs they sold to Brigada readers during the special “pre-release-to-Brigada” month of October. Remember, although the Countries and Peoples of the World CD is no longer being offered exclusively to the Brigada family at a specially discounted price, it’s still a great tool for researching unreached peoples. See it at:

Thanks also to another “Kingdom business bent on making a difference in missions” who threw in an additional $50 this past week, and yet another sponsor for $50, the International Council of Ethnodoxologists (ICE) a new organization for those seeking to encourage the use of the creative arts in worship, worldwide. They are only two months old but check them out at http://www.worldofworship.org See their item below (#2). In addition, the brother who thought up the “subscribe” tool sent his second monthly gift of $10. He inspired the new “subscribe” button at:

http://www.brigada.org/sponsor.html

which reminds you once a month to give a $10 sponsorship. If you’d like to join him in pitching in $10 per month, just use the PayPal “Subscribe” button at the top of the Sponsors page to register your intent. This brings our total for the year to $11,875! Our new Brigada secretary makes $15,600/year… so less than $4000 to go!

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF ETHNODOXOLOGISTS — This Association for Global Christian Worship group provides unique networking opportunities and a platform for Christian ethnomusicologists and others involved in worship and the arts world-wide to voice their mission, research, and concerns. ICE offers a web-based forum for members, a free one-year subscription to EthnoDoxology (the only published ethnomusicology journal with a focus on contextualized Christian music ministries), and an Ethnomusicology Consulting Network. ICE is offering discounted prices for partnership until Nov. 15, 2003. There are several categories of partnership, including an inexpensive partnership category of “International Associate” for non-native English speakers. Check out http://www.worldofworship.org or write to informationworldofworshiporg for more information on this unique organization. (Thanks to ICE for their sponsorship of our new Brigada secretary!)

NEED A GREAT INTERNATIONAL CALLING PLAN? — Try an international calling service that reportedly has the cheapest country-to-country phone rates in the business. Learn more at http://www.brigada.org/phone.html (By the way, Andy, our contact at this service, says that so far, 30 Brigada readers have signed on! Yahooo! He’s estimating that his first sponsorship check to us will come in December [for November use] and will be somewhere around $100! So … if you’re one of the Brigada users that have signed on, please talk away! Remember, every minute you talk to someone overseas, you’re going to be helping Brigada!!! :-) )

THREE BRIGADA SPONSORS SUBSCRIBE TO BLESSED HOPE LONG DISTANCE — This past week, three Brigada participants moved their long distance service over to Blessed Hope. By doing so, they’re creating what we hope will be a monthly fountain of help for our new Brigada Secretary. See:

Granted, with long distance bills being what they are these days, maybe Brigada will only receive $1/month per subscriber, but if a couple of *hundred* Brigada readers signed up, that’s $200/month! Besides, if you live in the USA, it’s a great plan — state-to-state is just 4.9 cents/minute with 6-second billing, NO fees and NO minimums. You can find your instate rate and international rates at the website.

CORRECTION ON GETTING THE “DICTIONARY” — Still trying to get that dictionary we told you about a couple of weeks ago (item 10, DICTIONARY OF THEOLOGICAL TERMS IN SIMPLIFIED ENGLISH, in the Oct. 24 Brigada Today)? As it turns out, here’s one book *not* available at Amazon.com. The Dictionary of Theological Terms in Simplified English ($14.95) and Student Workbook ($9.95) are only available at http://www.emisdirect.com or by calling 630/752-7156, or e-mailing emiswheatonedu The books are published and sold by EMIS- the Evangelism and Missions Information Service, publishing department of the Billy Graham Center, Wheaton, IL. Again, sorry for making the assumption that Amazon.com had everything! Please forgive any inconvenience.

SEND A GOSPEL GREETING — Thanks to the Brigada participant who tipped us off to http://www.gospelgreeting.com/ Looks like they have a great Christian greeting card thing going — for evangelism, encouragement, and more. (Great find, Nathan!)

THE NAMA/DAMARA PEOPLE — This group of central and southern Namibia in Africa – closely related to the Bushman, having a similar Khosian language, light skin and small frame – continue to carry on much of their reliance on stock farming, crafts, tribal traditions and a multitude of superstitions. Even though there is outward evidence of the 1840’s Rhenish Missionary work – identification with Christianity and women even wearing Victorian traditional dress – most show no understanding of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They are a forgotten people. To partner with the IMB in adopting the Nama/Damara People or for more information, check out their site on peopleteams.org: http://www.forgottenpeoples.info or email swacsciafricacom

DON’T GO TEACH ENGLISH WITHOUT TRAINING — Invest three weeks in practical TESOL training and ensure that your teaching is effective and your ministry with students is enhanced. During Essentials of TESOL, July 12-30, 2004, at Biola University in southern California, you will learn methods and techniques for teaching English language skills, be introduced to the sound and grammar systems of English, discover teaching materials, explore cultural issues, and learn appropriate ways of being a Christian teacher. You will also get supervised experience teaching non-native speakers. Earn a certificate for less than $1500 (tuition, room and board, materials). Call 562/903-4844 or contact kittypurgasonbiolaedu or visit http://www.biola.edu/academics/sics/essentials_tesol.cfm

BIHAR, INDIA UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS CONFERENCE — The Friends of Bihar are hosting a Strategy Coordinators conference in Houston, Texas December 1-5, 2003. Strategy Coordinators are individuals who adopt a single unreached people and focus their all of their efforts and resources towards seeing a Church planting movement launched among their specific people group. This training prepares individuals to partner with other believers around the world to be a part of reaching an unreached people group for Christ. The conference has as its goals to 1) Teach the principles of Strategy Coordination, 2) Coordinate efforts and strategies for Church planting, 3) Build a Network of Churches, Pastors, and Lay people committed to the evangelization of Bihar, India, 4) Focus on Unreached peoples in Bihar and take definitive steps towards their evangelization. For more information, contact Chad friendsofbiharcscom or you can visit http://www.friendsofbihar.org

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR WIVES/MOMS WORKING CROSS-CULTURALLY — Peter’s Wife has added “PW Community” to its website. Check out the new community to see their current topic and add your comments. Log on at http://peterswife.org/nucleus2.0/index.php To receive their monthly email newsletter, email: joinbpeterswifeorg

THE HERERO PEOPLE — This group of central and eastern Namibia in Africa – a pastoral cattle breeding nation, popularly known for the women wearing long Victorian gowns introduced by German missionaries in the 1800s – maintain strong tribal traditions. These Bantu-speaking people subsist on herding for meat and milk. Unique for southern Africa, each Herero identity is defined through specific fraternal and maternal family beliefs or property. Today they combine Christian dogma with ancestor worship and magical ceremonies. They are a forgotten people. To team up with the IMB in adopting the Herero People or for more information, please visit their peopleteams.org site at http://www.forgottenpeoples.info or email swacsciafricacom

SPECIAL PRICING FOR PEOPLE RAISING 6-HOUR VIDEO — People Raising is offering special pricing through November 30th on its 6-hour premiere video Kit. It is valued at $299.99 now available at $199.99. This 6-hour training program is designed to help reduce the fear as well as reduce the time needed to raise funds. These tools are based on the popular Moody Press book People Raising now in a 10th printing. George Verwer says, “I believe this is one of the most important and practical books in the history of world missions.” The Premier Video Edition includes: 4 90 min. videotapes, 4 90 min. audiotapes, a 72-page Study Guide, a Facilitator’s Guide, a Presentation Reminder Card, and a copy of People Raising: A Practical Guide to Raising Support. To take advantage of this special pricing go to the following link and enter special discount code V69879 http://www.peopleraising.com/purchase.cfm or email BillPeopleRaisingcom .

FREE DISCIPLESHIP MATERIALS — Get some in English, Spanish, Burmese, Bulgarian, Chinese, Finnish, French (France), French (Congo), Japanese, Kikuyo, Korean, Lingala, Paite, Russian, Swahili, Swedish, Tagalog, or Tenyidie. Jerry Reed, Milton B. Engebretson Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism at North Park Seminary in Chicago, recently finished an updated version of the Discipleship Web Site that is hosted on the NPU server and linked to it from www.discipleship.info or from http://www.discipulado.info This new version now contains 18 language versions of the Discipleship Encounters (version 3.5) as well as Jump Start and other resources for evangelism and discipling. They can be downloaded in three different formats: Microsoft Word, PDF, and/or HTML at no charge. The Covenant Resource Center (1-800-IDEA) carries the paper copies of the English, Spanish, and Korean. For those who do not like to wait for downloads, the whole web site is available on a CD from Jerry Reed jreednorthparkedu The CD costs $5.00, and the check should be made out to Jerry Reed.

CHECK OUT THIS RESOURCE FOR MISSIONS NEWS AND GIFTS — World Pulse brings you what the secular news doesn’t. Learn how global events affect the church around the world, read about unique ministries, delve deeper into God’s heart for the nations. This season, treat your family, your friends and your colleagues to these special subscription offers (until 12/31/03) to World Pulse: Six months (10 issues) of worldpulseonline.com for only $7.95, regularly $14.95 for one year. OR six months of World Pulse in print for only $9.95, regularly $20.95 for one year for new subscribers. An ideal gift for missionaries, overseas workers, pastors, students or anyone who’d like to expand their view of God’s work around the world. Check it out at http://www.worldpulseonline.com e-mail infoworldpulseonlinecom or call this US number: (630)752-7156.

NEW BOOK ON MISSION TO NEW RELIGIONS — Here’s a new book by Kregel Publications titled “Encountering New Religious Movements: A Holistic Evangelical Approach.” This book’s contributors, including noted missiologist David Hesselgrave, propose that the most effective way to reach new religions is to view them missiologically as different people groups and to approach them with a cross-cultural mindset instead of following more traditional methods that merely confront biblical heresies and doctrinal aberrations. The book’s international contributors include sections on biblical and historical considerations, methodology, and practical contextualization ideas for reaching Latter-day Saints, New Spirituality, Wicca, Mother Goddess, Satanism adherents and others. Order the book at Amazon.com http://tinyurl.com/j47k or learn more by contacting one of the editors at JMoreheadwatchmanorg

BEWARE SWIFTPAY.* — So… what’s up with the Swiftpay scams? They send you an email saying someone has donated $950 to you. All you have to do is create an account at Swiftpay.us: or swiftpayusacom. The next thing you know, they ask for your bank info., so they can transfer the money into your account. The *next* thing you know, your account is being hit for some small amount. You decide not to fight it… and they make thousands of dollars. Read more at:http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/32301.htmlhttp://www.thelocalbbb.org/alerts/alerts.html?newsid=212&newstype=1The internet has created more scam opportunities than any other creation in history. Yikes.

THE BACK PAGE — This past week, I was scanning some articles on the state of computing. The author was writing about the search for “the True Right Way” to do something. (The author was Peter Coffee of _eWeek_. You can scan his whole article, if you’re interested in that sort of thing, at:http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,4149,1362954,00.asp) His focus was that the “True Right Way” is “dangerously seductive to those who enjoy the technical exercise.” I pondered that concept as I tried to apply it to our own “industry.” It just occurred to me that it would be possible to get so hung up on trying to do things perfectly… that, in our stymied state, we might never do much at all. Peter Coffee went on to make his point. “The Good Enough Way” can be more than sufficient, he argued, especially when cost and time are critical factors. I’ll have to admit: sometimes it’s tempting to wait ’til we get “all of our ducks in a row.” That’s all well and good… unless we miss a limited opportunity while waiting for the stars to line up perfectly. Doing mission well probably means a combination of searching for excellence with all the passion and precision we can muster, while bolderdashedly trudging through the tall weeds when we sometimes won’t be able to see exactly where our next step will land. That’s part of what Proverbs 16:3 means to me: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” And just a few verses later, in Prov. 16:9, the writer adds, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” May we always commit to working as effectively and as efficiently as possible. But may we never become obsessed with finding only “the True Right Way”, when the “Good Enough Way” will allow more souls to come in contact with the message of Christ.

COMPLETELY FLOORED BY YOUR GENEROSITY — I want to be perfectly honest: I am completely humbled… even *floored* by your generosity, compassion and love! This past week brought us *significantly* closer to our goal of paying for a Brigada Secretary — to help us stay “up to date” and “in the air” for the long haul, churning out resources and mobilization ideas in Brigada Today. One anonymous donor gave [drum roll please] $5000. (That’s five *thousand* dollars.) He had nothing to sell, declined to feature his own work, and even declined a receipt for a tax deduction! I *will* tell you that he is indeed involved in Christian outreach, but his mission work takes place in a sensitive land. Perhaps you can identify… he wanted to help, but didn’t do it for any personal reward. It was totally an unselfish act, to try to help us get the word out regularly. He wrote, “Thank you for your faithfulness in serving the missions community through Brigada. … I have sent a $5,000.00 contribution toward your secretary. I clearly remember the days when I wished I had one and didn’t have the resources. Please keep this anonymous. Our mission is much better performed when only God knows who we are. You have been faithful to God and God is always faithful to you. We are simply thankful to bring this cup of cool water to your door.” Whoa. That’s quite a swig! :-) I’ll admit, when I first read the note, I figured it was one of those Internet scams. Then seconds later, I saw the PayPal notice that $5000 had been deposited in our PayPal account. Suddenly, weekly Brigada Todays started passing through my mind, … all the way back to January of 1995. Suddenly I realized there really *are* some people out there reading this stuff, and maybe some who are actually *using* it.

OTHER SPONSORS THIS PAST WEEK — John Walton writes, “Here’s $25 with thanks to the 5 Brigada readers who bought a copy of The Toolbox for Video Storytelling during the month of October. John keeps his word. Don’t forget, if you need a good book on producing videos for your church or mission — John is making good on his promise to donate $5 for each copy sold. Learn more at: http://www.VillageAve.com/Brigada Thanks, too, to our new friends at Wilcannia, NSW, Australia, who minister to Australian Aborigines. We appreciate their sponsorship of $25! They have seen in the last 6 years 39% of their town turn to Christ. Learn more at http://www.wilcanniariveroflife.com Thanks to these new Brigada sponsors!

BLESSED HOPE LONG DISTANCE GIVES *MONTHLY* HOPE — Now you can help create a *monthly* income for the Brigada secretary and save money at the same time! Through a partnership with Blessed Hope Long Distance, Brigada will begin earning a significant commission each and every month on all the long distance bills of those who subscribe to long distance service through this link: http://www.lowermyphonebill.com/brigada 200 new customers would provide about $200 extra dollars each and every month. 1000 customers might just about pay for the secretary! This is a great domestic plan and the state-to-state rate (in the contiguous U.S.) is 4.9 cents/minute with 6-second billing, NO fees and NO minimums. You can find your instate rate and international rates at the website. Blessed Hope is a Christian-owned company so you’ll also know your dollars are not going to fund what some feel are ungodly and anti- family causes of larger secular long distance providers. Our agents for this program, Neil & Darla Sautter, are the missions-minded parents of five who are building their Blessed Hope business as a way of becoming self-supporting so they themselves can return to overseas ministry in the future. Neil would like to be a TESOL teacher in China, Japan or Spain, should the Lord so lead. (Thanks Blessed Hope!)

NATIONAL MISSIONARY TRAINING FORUM — Here’s a course that… I’ll have to admit… looks *great*. “Outstanding Practices in Mission Training” is the theme for the Forum from January 15-17, 2004, in Richmond, VA , at the IMB’s Missionary Learning Center. NMTF is a gathering of mission trainers from agencies, church, and schools (over 140 people from 60 organizations attended in 2003). There will be 14 workshops profiling “outstanding practices.” Participants will interact with practitioners, learning together how to make mission training more effective. There are three “pre-Forum” sessions so that trainers can get training, including: Church Planting Movements (Training for Trainers), Leadership Encounter with Jesus, and Situational Leadership II. To learn more as well as register, go to: http://www.icelonline.com/NMTF2004.html

CONTACTING MISSIONARIES — Do you want to find missionaries for missions promotion only to be blocked by missions agencies concerned about security? PeopleTeams.org has 576 teams of missionaries online. In fact, PeopleTeams.org boasts of having every missionary team Web site in the world. These are not individual missionary family Webs, but instead, you’ll find online the way that missionaries *prefer* to be contacted. That way you can dialog with the personnel who are working in some very difficult places, not just the easy-to-reach field personnel. PeopleTeams.org is a mixture of many different agencies, too. Individual Web sites are frequently a coalition of many cooperating missions groups that pool their efforts to present the material you see online. You can send emails or letters to teams who will be happy to see that you receive a reply in a timely manner.

RETHINKING BIBLICAL WITNESS AMONG HINDUS — From January 2-4, 2004, the Rethinking Forum is sponsoring a conference on the Hindu-Christian interface from the perspective of the Rethinking Movement in Indian church history. Friday will focus on the work and witness of individuals past and present while Saturday will be a seminar on practical perspectives and concerns in ministry. The Chicago area conference will close by lunch on Sunday following a worship service. For more information contact Jamie inforethinkingforumcom

FINISHERS CANADA FORUM — The first forum of Finishers Canada is being held Saturday November 22nd at Tyndale College in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Speakers include Nelson Annan, Dave Toycen and Dave Mannings. Participants may choose between 5 seminars during the day. Further information, costs and registration information are available from finishersiatwca (or 519-763-6147). They’re also working on a website at http://wwwfinisherscanada.ca though at press time it still returned a “The page cannot be displayed” error.

FOLDING DISPLAYS? — I’m in the thick of trying to purchase a folding display. I must confess, I sometimes go through phases where I ask myself, where did we ever come up with this display thing, anyway? I mean… on the one hand, it seems like few church members actually really *look* at these things up close. Yet a decently designed portable “lit” display seems inevitably to cost hundreds of dollars. Either way, it seems like part of the “missions fair” culture is to ask us to all come with “nimlocks-in-hand”. Yikes. I’ve scouted some sites, but if you have some good ones … or if you know of the “best price” for a Skyline or a “ShowStyle” or whatever, Mark mark_simpson53hotmailcom is willing to take down the URL then assemble a report for us. (Thanks Mark! We appreciate your help. And to those with suggested sources, no need to copy me. Mark will compile the list. Thanks again!)

GLOBALMISSIOLOGY.NET — After years of planning & preparation, www.globalmissiology.net – a new quarterly electronic journal is now being launched. The organizers there would like us to spread the word, especially to those who can’t afford subscribing to traditional missiological journal but have internet access.

CRISIS CONSULTING INT’L OFFERS 4-DAY SEMINAR — During the dates of Jan. 26-29, 2004, at the Wycliffe Mobilization Center in Orlando, FL, CCI will offer its Crisis Management Seminar. Training will be provided in the following core areas: Evacuation Management, The Terrorism Threat, Contingency Planning, Policies, Leadership in Emergencies, Strategic Risk Forecasting, Tactical Risk Assessment, and Crisis Management Teams. Registration cost: $495 for the 1st registrant from an organization; $450 for each additional registrant from same organization (includes all meals). For more information, call 805-642- 2549, or email infocriconorg or go to http://www.CriCon.org/2004training.htm Please let them know you heard about it on Brigada. Thanks!

DOZENS OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE BIBLES NOW IN LOGOS FORMAT — Users of Logos Bible Software can now get dozens of foreign language Bibles for use with their Logos Bible Software Series X libraries. Arabic, Albanian, Maori, Esperanto, Czech, Serbian, Hungarian, Ukrainian and many more are now available. For a complete list visit: http://www.logos.com/ebooks/groups/ebooks/bibles Call toll-free from the USA 800-875-6467 or via Net2Phone from elsewhere 360-527-1700 or email your questions to infologoscom

YWAM CROSSROADS DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING SCHOOL — Youth With A Mission in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, USA, is offering a 5-month school for adults who are at a crossroads in life, and who are seeking increased intimacy with God, deeper understanding of his character and his ways, a new direction in ministry, or an avenue into cross-cultural missions. They’ll host a lecture phase for 3 months followed by 2 months of overseas short-term mission experience. It all starts April 18, 2004 and is designed for adults age 30 or more and families with children. For more info, see http://www.ywampa.org or e-mail ywampacomcastnet for more information.

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL TEACHING OPPORTUNITY — Metro Delhi International School, New Delhi, India, needs teachers for all levels at their K-7 Christian school. MDIS educates international children. It is a great opportunity to serve in this large metropolitan city in North India. For more information contact Paula Mowry at paulamowsifycom

UNREACHED PEOPLES CONFERENCE — For those interested in reaching the unreached peoples of the 10/40, check out this conference, November 9- 14. The “Revolution” conference is an interdenominational, inter- organizational missions conference. Groups such as New Tribes Missions, Red Sea Team International, Frontiers, YWAM, Operation Mobilization, Calvary International, Wycliffe, the US Center for World Missions and many more will be represented for this “10/40-focused” event. The goal is to get the word out about the needs in the 10/40 Window and to provide a place for those working there to meet and share their experiences. There will be speakers, workshops, booths, and time just to fellowship with those who share a similar heart. The conference will be held in Talladega, Alabama. For cost, registration form and other information check out http://www.revolution1040.com If you would like more information, contact Jose at 904-221-0114 or email Therevolutionconferenceyahoocom

TURKEY: THE LOST LAND OF THE BIBLE — Dr. Andrew Jackson’s new book, “The Lost Land of the Bible: A Christian Travel and Prayer Guide Through the Ancient Biblical Land of Turkey,” is now available (180 pages). It is the only comprehensive Christian travel and prayer guide available on Turkey. It provides you with up-to-date information for strategic prayer, as well as twelve travel itineraries through Turkey’s eighty-one provinces (including the number of Turkish Christians, churches, and resident workers in each province). It is one of a kind. There is no other book like it. Purchase this book and accompanying wall map from the International Turkey Network by e-mailing mailitnetorg (book cost is $9.50 plus postage). (Note that for security’s sake, the *identities* or locations of these brothers and sisters is not provided.)

STUDY ISLAM IN ASIA — The 7th annual Institute Of Islamic Studies will convene April 05 to May 28, 2004, at Asia Pacific Theological Seminary, Baguio City, Philippines. Earn up to 9 graduate credits. Enroll by full program; course; or, “module” [1 week or more]. Get an Introduction to Islam, Folk Islam & Power Encounter, Learn about Contemporary Issues In Islam, Christian Ministry in Muslim Contexts, Ministry in Urban Contexts (with Dr. Robert Douglas!), Ministry to Muslim Women, Church Planting in Muslim Contexts. Study Approaches to Islam, including Theological Approaches, Contextual Approach (with Dr. Phil Parshall!), and more. For more information, write iisaptsedu or call (63)(74) 422-6977 or fax (63)(74) 442-7068. Or see the website for more details, including exact dates. http://www.apts.edu/ The registration deadline is March 01, 2004.

CHILDREN’S HOME NEEDING WORKERS — The Josiah and Bethany Children’s Home in Reynosa, Mexico is in need of a married couple without children to live with and love four children in a three bedroom apartment at the home. With the original vision stemming from Keith Green, it was named for his two children who died with him in the airplane crash in 1982. Interested applicants can contact Calvary Commission. Call toll-free from the USA or via Net2Phone from elsewhere 1-800.835-4673 or 903-882-5501 or email missionscalvarycommissionorg. Or see their site at: http://www.calvarycommission.org

THE MAN FROM GADARA — This book tells the true story of Abdalla, a Muslim student from the historical city of Gadara, where long ago Jesus cast demons into swine. Abdalla finds Jesus and attempts to minister among his own people. But can Abdalla’s new faith survive in this tough environment? Discover how God uses this young man to start planting churches in the heart of the Muslim world. Thrill to the stories of lives that have been transformed by the power of the Gospel. This book offers Christians hope and understanding of how God is planting his church among Muslims. In doing so, he is using people like the Man from Gadara. Special Introductory Offer: $8.00 plus S&H. Paypal or cheque. http://rmuller.com or email: orderscanbookscom